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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Orchard Mines (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Orchard Mines. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Orchard Mines is located in Peoria County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Peoria County: Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Stark, Tazewell & Woodford.

Below are the counties that are near Orchard Mines. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orchard Mines:

  • Peoria County     (The home county of Orchard Mines)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Mapleton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bartonville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Kingston Mines
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellevue
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Maxwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • West Peoria
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Glasford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Norwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Pottstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
    • Peoria
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanna City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • North Peoria
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • North Peoria is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Banner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Breeds
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Farmington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Brereton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Canton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Norris
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Dunfermline
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Saint David
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Liverpool
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bryant
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Fairview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Bybee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Yates City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Maquon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Williamsfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Emden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Holland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Evans
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
  • Marshall County
    • Hopewell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hopewell is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Manito
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Union
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Forest City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • San Jose
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Natrona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Buzzville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Topeka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Teheran
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Easton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Mason City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Poplar City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Danvers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Danvers is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
      • Danvers has also been known as:
      • Danver
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
    • Stanford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carlock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Stark County
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Crescent
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Pekin
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
    • North Pekin
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
      • Former name for North Pekin:
      • Radio City
    • Powerton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Schaeferville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Schaeferville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaeferville
    • Marquette Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Marquette Heights is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquette Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,617 people
    • Midway
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Stoehrs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Pekin Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pekin Heights is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin Heights
    • Creve Coeur
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Creve Coeur is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creve Coeur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,109 people
      • Former name for Creve Coeur:
      • Wesley City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Creve Coeur <1>
    • Wesley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wesley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.
    • Germantown Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bay View Gardens
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
    • Spring Bay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Goodfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Metamora
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Congerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Roanoke
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Secor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Washburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orchard Mines, see our County-by-County Page for Orchard Mines.

Cemeteries Near Orchard Mines ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orchard Mines.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Orchard Mines - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orchard Mines covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.

  • Hollis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Lakeside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Veteran's Memorial Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Gardenrest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Tharpe Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Cemetery
    • The Lakeview Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Pekin Memorial Park Cemetery
  • Trial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Peoria State Hospital Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria State Hospital Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Peoria State Hospital Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Bartonville.
    • The Peoria State Hospital Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bartonville State Asylum Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1960165 <2>
  • Maple Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (326 more) ...
    • Bequaith Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bequaith Cemetery
      • The Bequaith Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Bequeath Cemetery
    • Haynes Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Kingston Mines Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Orchard Mines had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Orchard Mines, with the one closest to Orchard Mines listed first.

  • Hollis
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Hollis is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
  • Mapleton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Pekin
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
  • Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Grove is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
  • Bartonville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Stoehrs
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
  • Kingston Mines
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hawley ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
  • Wesley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Wesley is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
  • Kickapoo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Kickapoo is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kickapoo
  • Maxwell
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Groveland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Glasford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Peoria
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pottstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orchard Mines. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orchard Mines.

Newspapers Published in Orchard Mines ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 246 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orchard Mines.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orchard Mines, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orchard Mines.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Orchard Mines:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Orchard Mines, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Orchard Mines) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.